Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, June 30: The foremost Buddhist figure and Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama oversaw a long-life prayer ceremony special offered to him on Monday at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala just days ahead of his 90th birthday. The religious event was organised by members of the Dhomey community and included a short long life offering ceremony dedicated to the exiled spiritual leader.
Addressing the gathering, the revered Tibetan leader reflected on his lifelong commitment to the service of humanity, noting that despite turning 90, he continues to feel physically healthy. “Though I’m 90 years old, I’m physically very healthy and I’ve been to other countries, east, west, north, south, where I have found so many people who admire me. So, this human life that I have now has been of quite a benefit to the people of the world. The rest of my life, I will dedicate to the benefit of others as much as possible, as extensively as possible,” he said.
He also spoke briefly on the future continuation of the institution he has led for decades, stating, “So, the institution of the Dalai Lama, so there will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lamas.”
The auspicious ceremony was graced by the 105th Gaden Tripa, Jetsun Lobsang Dorje Pal Sangpo (Gelug), Kyabje Taklung Ma Tulku Rinpoche Tenzin Kunsang Jigme (Dhagpo Kagyu), Sakya Gongma Trichen and the 43rd Sakya Trizin Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, Kyabje Menri Trizin Rinpoche (Bon), and Kyabje Menling Khenchen Rinpoche (Nyingma). They are in Dharamshala ahead of the 15th Religious Conference of the Central Tibetan Administration, scheduled from July 2–4, and His Holiness’s Gregorian-calendar birthday on July 6, 2025.
Also in attendance were representatives from global faith traditions, including Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Baha’i, Judaism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
As part of the celebrations, Kirti Rinpoché honoured the Dalai Lama with the title “Peerless Spiritual Teacher of the Twenty-first Century” on behalf of Tibetans from the three traditional provinces. The tribute recognised His Holiness’s unwavering advocacy for non-violence, global peace, interfaith harmony, the preservation of the Nalanda tradition, and his Middle Way Approach as a peaceful resolution to the Tibetan issue.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Thubten Lungrig, expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the Dhomey community. He recalled that during their 80th birthday celebration for His Holiness, the Dalai Lama had encouraged them to celebrate again when he turned 90. “This time, we have invited representatives of the world’s religions to join us in the offerings we have made,” he said.
In a poignant appeal, Lungrig urged the Dalai Lama to live long for the benefit of all beings. Referring to the 2011 statement concerning reincarnation, he added, “Given the deep bond between Avalokiteshvara and the Tibetan people, we earnestly request that Your Holiness continue to reincarnate. We pray to celebrate your 100th birthday in a free Tibet.”
As the ceremony came to a close, the atmosphere was filled with reverence, joy, and longing—a collective prayer that the beacon of compassion embodied by His Holiness the Dalai Lama continues to shine for generations to come, guiding the path toward peace, unity, and for Tibetans, the enduring dream of freedom and return.
2 Responses
Many people, especially the press seem to have had a high expectation of the Dalai Lama announcing something concerning his reincarnation! The Dalai Lamas have reincarnated fourteen times in independent Tibet and nobody ever bothered to take any notice of it. However, since Tibet was invaded and illegally occupied by communist China, the infidel Chinese regime sought to interfere in the succession of the Dalai Lamas for purely political reasons! Their seven decades of illegal occupation has not paid dividends to win the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people! Despite their vilification of the Dalai Lama, the evil and illegitimate regime wants to lay its bloody hand on the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation for abject political reason! Notwithstanding their propaganda, they realised the usefulness of the Dalai Lama to hoodwink the Tibetan people by using him as a pawn in their hand! The Tibetan leadership NEVER ACCEPTED CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY OVER TIBET despite Chinese threats and incentives! The CCP knows that the Dalai Lama is the sovereign of Tibet. The sovereignity of Tibet lies with the person of the Dalai Lama. Hence, the CCP feels that unless and until the Dalai Lama is brought to its heel, they CANNOT CLAIM SOVEREIGNTY OVER TIBET! So, they are scrambling to lay its hand on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama to give a semblance of legitimacy to its illegal occupation of Tibet! Owing to this reason and this reason alone, the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has spawned worldwide interest fuelled by the CCP’s interest! The CCP is using bluster, fabrication and manufactured lies to gain credence to its futile attempt! What they forget is that the Dalai Lama’s return to serve the devoted and loyal followers to fulfil their spiritual needs and not be a political pawn in the hands of a regime who openly despises and reject religion as nothing but superstition! As it were, the Dalai Lama clearly declared in no uncertain terms that “he will be BORN IN THE FREE WORLD”!!! That should have made the CCP to realise its futility and stop interfering but the infidel is adamant to insist on its baseless, concocted and manufactured lies to gain traction among the international public! The Dalai Lama’s choose where they would be born and nobody else. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO APPOINT DALAI LAMA CANDIDATES EXCEPT THE APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRESENT DALAI LAMA WHICH THE GANDEN PHODRANG INSTITUTION. UNBEKNOWNST TO THE INFIDEL CCP, THERE IS KARMA AT WORK! The child who is the true reincarnation of the Dalai Lama will inherit the knowledge, wisdom, compassion and charisma of the previous Dalai Lama and nobody else. Therefore, guided by the karmic connection of the present Dalai Lama with the Tibetan, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Mongolian and Nepali people, He will be born at a place where he can best serve the devotees of these countries! He will not recognise any one but will leave strict instructions with the holy Lamas attending him, as to where he would be born in future! The next Dalai Lama will be equally charismatic like the present fourteenth Dalai Lama and will continue to lead the Tibetan struggle for independence! His prayers and wishes held for many years will take care of his birth place and his mission for the future of Tibet! Therefore the CCP can adopt a dummy “Dalai Lama” like the present dummy Gyaltsen Norbu and be saddled with frustration and humiliation for the rest of its terror reign!
Thank you for being the voice & spirit of reason & compassion in a war-weary world. I still have the wonderful photo of you & Nelson Mandela as “Mischievous Companions.” Such joy!